Year in review: Franklin's top 10 sports stories in 2008

It was a bizarre year for sports in Franklin in 2008, with a plethora of coaching changes and undefeated teams.

The following is a brief recap of the top 10 stories as selected by sports editor Andy Scheidler. The stories are arranged in order as they happened during the year.

Undefeated teams

First it was the Macon Middle School boys basketball team. Then the Franklin JV girls basketball team followed suit. Then other teams joined in the fun.

Who knows, 2008 may go down in Franklin history as the "Year of the Undefeated Teams."

Four teams at MMS and two JV teams at FHS posted a perfect record.

The Macon Middle School boy's basketball team accomplished a goal it set before the season by going undefeated. The Panthers went 14-0 during the season, beating Andrews at home in the finale.

"It means a lot to them," coach Michael Turner said. "We had a team meeting before the season. They set out specific goals. They had 10 goals they wanted to accomplish this year, and they basically did all 10."

Counting summer games and the Asheville Christmas Tournament that most of the players competed in, the main group of guys went 25-0.

In those 25 games, the closest margin of victory was 10 points. MMS beat Swain this year by 10, and in the Asheville tournament, the players beat Carolina Day in the championship by 10.

The next perfect team was the Franklin JV girls.

Photo provided The Franklin JV volleyball team went 20-0 and won the conference title.

The Panthers beat Enka 35-17 at home to seal the perfect 21-0 season.

"It's something I kind of wished for but never thought it would happen," coach Mark Sutton said.

The Panthers average margin of victory was 18.5 points per game. The closest they came to losing was a 39-38 overtime victory at T.C. Roberson. Jordan Pickens hit a 3-pointer to tie that game in regulation, and she made another 3 in overtime to give the Panthers a one-point lead and win.

In the spring, the MMS baseball and softball teams won all of their games led by coaches Sean Greene and Larry McConnell.

In the fall, the MMS volleyball team wrapped up a remarkable year by beating Hayesville. The Panthers finished 15-0 under coach Kim Enlsey. The victory also capped the final home game for the eighth graders - Chelsie Daves, Amber Cook, Megan Bishop, Haylee Overholt, Danielle Jimison and Amy Underwood.

And lastly, the JV girls volleyball team accomplished the feat at Enka. The Panthers also wrapped up a MAC championship in the process.

"To be honest, no kid or me ever thought that goal would come true - to have an undefeated season or beat Enka twice," coach Amanda Dowdle said. "You know, it just shows you when you play together as a team, have fun and are like a family, anything is capable."

Cabe scores 1,000 points

It was kind of odd that Jena Cabe broke the 1,000-point plateau at the free throw line, where she had struggled during her senior season. She was shooting 58 percent from the charity stripe late in the season, when two free throws against Asheville gave her 1,000 points, and two more put her over the plateau.

Cabe became the third girls basketball player in Franklin High School history to eclipse the 1,00 career points.

Paula Corbin first accomplished the feat in the 70s when she totaled 1,100 points. Crystal Tallent ended her playing days in 2000 with 1,172 points.

Cabe completed her three-year varsity career with 1,120 points. She was named Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a senior.

"I think it's something that she can definitely be proud of," Panthers coach Jay Brooks said. "That's something no one can ever take away from her. She will definitely be a part of history at Franklin High School. I'm glad and blessed I was a part of it."

Cabe signed to play with Belmont Abbey, a Division II school 15 minutes west of Charlotte. She has yet to see any action, as the Crusaders are 3-1 this season.

Girls basketball season highlights

It was quite a year for the Franklin High School girls basketball team. The squad accomplished many feats that hadn't been achieved in many years, or ever.

The Panthers won 10 straight games midway through the season, and cracked the top 10 in the 3-A state rankings. They finished second behind conference champion T.C. Roberson.

FHS hosted a first round playoff game. The victory was the first NCHSAA playoff victory for FHS in 21 years.

A victory over Charlotte Catholic clinched the school's first sectional title since joining the 3-A ranks.

The remarkable season came to an end in Winston-Salem at the Western Regionals. Concord claimed a 73-54 victory over Franklin in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs, while going on to win the state title.

The Panthers finished the year with an impressive 23-7 record.

"I'm so proud of this team and this town," said Franklin coach Jay Brooks, who won MAC Coach of the Year.

Browning-Plemmons saga

The most buzzworthy topic of conversion this year likely involved the coach of the Franklin boys varsity basketball team.

It was quite a whirlwind from April, when Robert Browning was hired to replace Doug Plemmons, who had resigned after the season, until July when Plemmons was voted to become the interim coach for one more season.

It all began when Plemmons decided to resign after the Panthers went 12-12 and he was named co-MAC Coach of the Year. It was his 25th year as a varsity coach, and 15th at Franklin.

Browning, who was an assistant coach during the previous season, was introduced as the new coach April 7.

But his tenure didn't last long. Less than two months later, Browning was arrested for driving while impaired (he pleaded guilty to the DWI in October).

Browning resigned his coaching and teaching position on May 28. Shields then asked Plemmons to consider coming back as head coach. After taking a day to think it over, Plemmons told Shields he would return.

But a week later, the Macon County Board of Education decided to take applications for the position and wanted to go through a hiring process.

Plemmons and Mark Sutton were the only candidates who applied. Shields then put together an interview committee.

Plemmons was nominated, and the school board voted 4-1 to accept Shields' nomination on July 28. However, the board said at the meeting the position would be reopened in the spring of 2009.

In November, Plemmons said he was solely focused on the upcoming season.

"I'll work as hard or harder than I've ever worked," he said. "I don't view it as anything other than another basketball season. It's a season that I've got to do my very best, as I've always tried to do, to give these guys their best chance to be successful."

Coaches resign

Three coaches announced they were stepping down in April and May. Junior varsity basketball coaches Mark Sutton and Jesse Pinkston resigned shortly after Robert Browning was hired as the boys varsity coach. Both had applied for the position.

Sutton led the JV girls to a perfect 21-0 season in his fifth and final year. The Panthers were a combined 94-10 under Sutton, who said he still planned to coach club and travel basketball for boys and girls.

Sutton was hired as principal for the 5-6 School, which should open in 2010.

Pinkston helped coach the JV boys for the past seven seasons, the past four as head coach. He was also an assistant for the varsity.

Within three weeks of resigning, he accepting a head coaching job at Pickens High School in South Carolina.

Pickens is similar to Franklin, as it competes in a 3-A conference and has about 1,400 students. The two towns are 75 miles apart, which will allow Pinkston to return and visit often.

The Pickens varsity squad has started the year 2-6 (updated Dec. 19) in Pinkston's first year.

"Everything we're putting in is new to these guys, so I've had to throw a lot at them," Pinkston wrote in an e-mail. "It looks like were beginning to click, they are getting more comfortable with our system everyday. We want to be sharp by the start of conference beginning in January."

Rick Stoudemire stepped down from his position as the head softball coach in May.

Though he enjoyed his time coaching the Panthers, he'd now rather spent it with his family. Stoudemire coached JV for four years, followed by five seasons as varsity head coach.

He led the Panthers to a winning record all five years years and earned a NCHSAA playoff appearance in four seasons.

"I'll miss the girls," Stoudemire said. "...But it's time to let somebody else to take care it of."

Penny Moffitt was hired in June to take over the program.

Mill Creek changes

It was a lengthy process, and at times it didn't look like it would go through. But after working on buying Mill Creek for nearly two years, a deal was reached.

Rob Bell, Kevin Bell and Lewis Penland became official owners of Mill Creek Resort and Country Club in June, buying Franklin's only 18-hole golf course from Warren Hughes.

Mill Creek opened in 1980, and Hughes purchased the property in 1986.

During his time at Mill Creek Hughes built a clubhouse, saw the growth of the subdivision and witnessed the evolution of the golf course. He decided to stop offering memberships in March 2007.

When the new owners purchased the course, one of the first items on their agenda was to reopen memberships. They've expanded the restaurant, which offers lunch every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

As far as improvements to the course, the main winter project is to repair drainage and edge all the bunkers, Rob Bell said.

Swim challenge

Not too many people would ever consider swimming for 15 miles without stopping. And certainly, you wouldn't expect a 70-year-old man with a busted up back to attempt the feat.

But that's exactly what Nelson Nichols did this summer in honor of his niece.

Nichols, a classical sculptor who's lived in Franklin 18 years, came up with the idea to combine his passion for swimming, while also honoring his niece in the process.

Debbie Bordeos is the daughter of Patricia, Nichols' oldest sister. Bordeos was paralyzed from the waist down 25 years ago because of childbirth complications, while also losing her baby. She has battled cancer and diabetes, but remains a positive spirit through it all.

Nichols decided he wanted to donate money in honor of his niece to the Allied Services Skilled Nursing Center, where Bordeos lives in Scranton, Pa. And he wanted to attempt something that was physically challenging, though it would still pale in comparison to what Bordeos has endured.

Joined by his son Mike Nichols and childhood friend Terry Preston (they rode in a stand up paddle boat and a canoe), Nichols began the swim at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 14 in the Chatuge Reservoir.

Nichols did exactly what he planned, to swim the entire reservoir without using anything to hold onto. He expected it to take 10-12 hours, but completed it in nearly nine hours. And he spent only 14 minutes treading water to get something to eat and drink.

The swim garnered interest far and wide, as many people donated to the cause.

A ceremony was held in July for Bordeos. The plaque Nichols had made in honor of his niece is on display in the recreation room.

It wouldn't be the last time Nichols, a former scholarship swimmer at the University of Miami, would enter the water. He competed in a triathlon with his two sons in October, swimming the opening 1.2 miles in the ocean.

All-Star success

The level of success was unprecedented on the Franklin baseball and softball scene this summer. Never had so many All-Star teams won district and state titles.

The Franklin 7-year-old All-Star baseball squad overcame potential road blocks on its drive to a North Carolina state championship. Franklin beat North Durham 17-16 on July 13 to capture the first-ever 7-year-old state tournament.

"I'm so excited," coach Bill Harrell said. "I really can't put into words how I feel. They have done a tremendous accomplishment. The history they have made being first 7-year-old state champions - to accomplish that goes without saying."

The many hours practicing paid off for the 7-8-year-old All-Star softball team. Franklin went undefeated in five games to win the District 5 title.

Franklin practiced for three hours every day for two weeks before the games started. It paid off with a 20-11 victory over Swain in the championship game to finish 5-0.

"We had an awesome group of girls to work with this year," coach Tracie Thomas said.

The bats cooled off at the wrong time for the Franklin 8-year-old All-Star baseball team. They rolled through district undefeated. But Franklin couldn't keep the momentum going at the state tournament.

Despite playing on its home field, Franklin lost both games at the state tournament.

But for coach Denver Vaughn, the thrill of winning the District 5 title outweighed the disappointment of state.

The 11-12-year-old All-Stars softball team advanced through the winners' bracket in the state tournament with two wins, then fell 4-2 to East Surry. However, the Panthers rebounded with an 11-4 victory to claim back-to-back state titles.

Franklin lost to the two teams that played for the Southern Regional Tournament title, which was held in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Based on the runs total, coach Bobby Bishop said Franklin (2-2) finished third at regional.

FAST domination

The Mountain Swim League Conference meet went like every previous meet this season. The Franklin Amateur Swim Team had too much depth for its opponents, breezing to a lopsided victory.

It was the fifth straight MSL conference championship for FAST.

FAST had about 120 swimmers on its team this year ages 5-18, though not all participated in event held July 26 at the Macon County Recreation Park swimming pool.

Individual winners for FAST were: Timothy McAllister, Josiah Brendel, Shannon Esterwood, Chandon Ivey, Anastasia Kolousek, Calvin McQuitty, Eric McQuitty, Scott Oosthuysen, Travis Shook, Jeff Simpson, Tyler Stevenson and Rachel Stewart.

Picou estimated that the MSL has been around for about 25 years. He said this five-year stretch is easily the best span during the conference's existence for Franklin.

"(The swimmers) were excited that we pulled it off five times in a row," Picou said. "Success breeds success."

MMS athletic changes

It's been known for about a year that Franklin High School sports teams will be playing in a new conference next year. But developments in November have led to Macon Middle School also joining a new athletic conference.

The middle school teams will compete in the Blue Ridge Conference next year. It also means MMS will form its own football team of seventh and eighth graders.

The football team particulars are still being ironed out, as a coaching staff has yet to be assembled. However, it's known that MMS will play home games at the high school field.